FedEx Cup Standings 2012: Winner Doesn't Need Tour Championship Victory

Life is straightforward for the five golfers atop the standings of the FedEx Cup. Win the Tour Championship and they take the season crown as well.

But Justin Rose is in a tie for the lead, just two strokes ahead of Ryan Moore. Bubba Watson is also in the hunt. What happens if one of those three win on Sunday?

Bleacher Report is pleased to provide some information on where the golfers stand, along with scenarios on what it would take for Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Brandt Snedeker to take the crown without a win.

The fifth golfer that controls his destiny is Nick Watney. He's currently in 29th place and 17 strokes off the lead, though. 

Life isn't much easier for Mickelson at 10 strokes back.

Current FedEx Cup Standings		+/-	Events	Points	Wins
1	Rory McIlroy	-5	16	2,500	4
2	Tiger Woods	-4	19	2,250	3
3	Nick Watney	+9	25	2,000	1
4	Phil Mickelson	+2	22	1,800	1
5	Brandt Snedeker	-8	22	1,600	2
24	Justin Rose	-8	18	270	1

Current standings for the Tour Championship are located below.

How Does Snedeker Win the Cup?

• Win the Tour Championship, or
• Finish second without one of the top five winning, and
• McIlroy finishes tied for third or worse

How Does McIlroy Win?

• Win the Tour Championship, or
• Finish third or better without one of the top five winning

How Does Woods Win?

• Win the Tour Championship, or
• Finish third without one of the top five winning, and 
• Finishes ahead of McIlroy

How Does Rose Win?

Win the Tour Championship, and:

• McIlroy finishes in 17th or worse (currently six strokes ahead), and
• Snedeker tied for second or worse, and
• Woods tied for third or worse

How Does Watson Win?

Win the Tour Championship, and:

• McIlroy finishes tied for sixth or worse, and
• Snedeker tied for second or worse, and
• McIlroy tied finished for fourth or worse, and
• Woods tied for sixth or worse

It will be an exciting final round at the Tour Championship. It is worth noting that if Snedeker finishes in second behind Rose or Watson, and McIlroy finishes in a tie for third, there would be a tie between Snedeker and McIlroy for the Cup.

Tour Championship Standings through Round 3

Pos.	Player	Total	Saturday
T1	Brandt Snedeker	-8	-6
T1	Justin Rose	-8	-2
3	Ryan Moore	-6	-5
T4	Rory McIlroy	-5	-2
T4	Bubba Watson	-5	E
T4	Jim Furyk	-5	2
T7	Tiger Woods	-4	-3
T7	Matt Kuchar	-4	E
T7	Robert Garrigus	-4	-1
T7	Bo Van Pelt	-4	1

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Darin Pike is a writer for Bleacher Report's Breaking News Team and a Featured Columnist covering the NFL and Seattle Seahawks.